Seattle Art Blog - News, Discussion, and Events

Bluebottle Art Gallery , 415 East Pine St. in Seattle, showcases Amy Hevron’s collection of “Tiny Portraits,” plants and animals she loves from May 1. The artist will attend the opening reception on May 2 from 6-8pm.

Award-winning artists Marty Rogers, Bill McEnroe and Dianna Shyne open in a new show at Insights Gallery , 516 Commercial in Anacortes, during the Anacortes Gallery Walk on MAY 1 from 6-9pm. The show runs through May 30. Shown is Bill McEnroe’s Bandits.

”Look Both Ways," an exhibit featuring works by Buffy Cribbs and Bruce Morrow, is on view at the Open Door Gallery, at Historic Bayview Cash Store in Langley on Whidbey island, from May 1 through 24.  Also on view is “Metamorphisis in Nature,” an exhibit featuring the  work of Robert Graves. Graves has exhibited his work nationally and internationally and is the recipient of numerous national awards in the visual arts. Public collections include the Seattle Art Museum, Portland Art Museum Collection, New York State University and Washington State Program-Art in Public Buildings. Meet the artists at a reception on May 9 from 5:30 to 8pm.  Shown is Buffy Cribbs’ Counting Quilt.

R E Welch Gallery , 1214 First Avenue in Seattle, is featuring “Power and Frailty,” the work of Miramontes, for the month of May. Shown at the left is  Corps Accord.

Revolution Gallery, 317 NW Gilman Blvd. in Issaquah, opens for the May 1 Issaquah Art Walk with Stuart King’s “Light Waves” in a reception from 5-9pm. The Matt Hopper Quartet will provide music, and refreshments will be served.Shown at the right is Foam Ball. The show runs through July.

Scott-Milo Gallery , 420 Commercial in Anacortes,  is showing new photographs on canvas by Dick Garvey for the Anacortes Art Walk in an opening from 6-9pm. Garvey has selected a group of work shown in his book , “A Western Waltz” that is hot off the press and is offering 50 of his prints in a smaller sizes. Also showing are mountain landscapes in oil by Dederick Ward, horizon line oils by Don deLlamas, color photographs by Lewis Jones, Russian Impressionist style oils by Joanne Shellan and fused glass by Lin McJunkin. Shown at the left is Garvey’s Flag Door.

The Island Gallery, 100 Madison Avenue North on Bainbridge Island, opens for the Bainbridge Art Walk  from 6-8pm featuring new collections from Akihiko Izukura, Lynn Mizono, Nubia Collection, Maggy Pavlou, Carter Smith and Christine L. Sundt.

Encaustic artist Debra Van Tuinen’s “Wave Energy” is being featured at an artist’s reception at the Washington Center at 512 Washington St SE in Olympia from 5-8pm. Her work is in public collections in the USA, Taiwan, Canada and Europe as well as private collections nationally and internationally.

There is some good news out there in the art world! Amid all the stories we’ve read lately about various publications “deaccessioning”  their art critics, along comes an announcement from  Pacific Publishing that well-known art professor and internet entrepreneur, Steven Vroom has been hired to write a monthly column called “Only an Eye.” Vroom’s column will appear on the first Wednesday of each month in the North Seattle Herald-Outlook, The Capitol Hill Times and the South Seattle Beacon. Vroom says, “In a down economy and a dying industry? Who knew?”

Northwest Watercolor Society’s 69th Annual International Open Exhibition now on view at the Mercer View Gallery at the Mercer Island Community Center, 8236 SE 24th St. on Mercer Island, through May 15. Awards will be announced at the reception on April 30 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.  The public is invited to one of the largest watercolor competitions in North America with 64 paintings selected from hundreds of entries from the USA and Canada. For more information call 425.260.4677.

After 29 years, Northwest Fine Woodworking, 101 South Jackson, has become an institution in Pioneer Square, comprised of a wide array of artisans – some just beginning their woodworking careers--others still creating after more than 60 years. Known for their hand-crafted, sophisticated and contemporary pieces, many of the artists’ works are in museums and owned by collectors as the lines between art and craft have increasingly blurred. Faced with a challenging economy, the studio furniture co-op has decided to go back to its roots, and, as of April 30th, the woodworkers themselves will return to working in the store every day, just as they did when the gallery first opened its doors in 1980.  Shown is a sculpture piece by Ben Carpenter.

Lydia Panas’ “Portfolio” is showing at Wall Space Gallery , 600 First Avenue, Suite 322, from April 28 through June 6. Panas was one of nine artists to be selected by FotoFest for the International Discoveries exhibit in 2007.  She was a finalist in the Photolucida book competition, 2007, and is a recipient of a Puffin Foundation Grant, a John Anson Kittredge Grant, and four Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts Grants, and most recently selected as the Publisher's Choice at Center Santa Fe's Singular Image Competition. A reception for the artist is scheduled for First Thursday, May 7 from 6-8pm.

Just one week left to see the BFA 1 show featuring work from this year's graduating class of photography and 3D4M seniors. The show includes innovative work in ceramics, photography, sculpture, and video and light installation. The show will run until Saturday May 2. Jacob Lawrence Gallery is located at 128 Art Building, Stevens Way, at the University of Washington.

The Pulliam Deffenbaugh Gallery in Portland is closing after 21 years. Pulliam, according to a post on Oregon Live , said “the gallery just couldn’t hang on financially because of the dire recession.” Mary Ann Deffenbaugh has already taken a job at Oregon College of Art & Craft. That’s the bad news. The good news is Pulliam will  continue in the same  space with a new partner, Jane Beebe. Read all about it on the blog, Oregon Live.

First Friday

Anacortes Galleries are open from 6-8pm.  Visit www.anacortesart.com.

Bainbridge Island Galleries are open from 5-8 or 9pm.

Bellingham Downtown Art Walk from 6-10 pm. For more information go to http://www.downtownbellingham.com/gallerywalk/

Belltown Seattle monthly art walk from 6-8pm. Call Carol d'Amelio at 206.443.6003 for more information.

Bremerton Gallery Walk, 5-8pm, in Downtown Bremerton.

Ellensburg Art Walk, 5-7:30pm., in Historic Downtown Ellensburg.

Fremont Art Walk, 6-9pm.  Visit www.fremontseattle.com.

Issaquah Art Walk 6-9pm in downtown Issaquah.

Sequim Art Walk, 5-8pm, downtown.

Vashon Island Gallery Cruise, 6-9pm.  Call Silverwood Gallery 206/463-1722.

First Saturday

Gig Harbor Art Walk, 1-5pm., along the waterfront

Langley on Whidbey Island Galleries extend their hours to 8pm.

Port Townsend Art Walk, 5:30-8:30.  Call Ancestral Spirits Gallery at 360/385-0078.

Quilcene Art Walk, 11am-6pm.  E-mail info@olympicartgallery.com.

April 27 - May 6
Pilchuck Glass School Spring Group Tours. View the spectacle of glassblowing; talk with working artists; tour the Stanwood campus. 10am or 2pm. Tours offered to organizational groups of 10 - 45 people. $30 per person; $20 seniors and students -- includes tea and treats. Contact Amanda Lee: 206/621-8422, ext. 50 or email alee@pilchuck.com.

May 1

Art a la Carte-Auction and Luncheon produced by the Northwest Art Alliance.  All proceeds benefit uncompensated medical care at  Seattle Childrens’ Hospital.   The Golf Club at Newcastle, 11:00 am.  Visit www.nwartalliance.com .

Begins May 1

2009 Sculpture Exhibition at Westcott Bay Sculpture Park, San Juan Island showcases over 11 sculptures by regional artists, placed throughout 19 acres of meadow, forest, and pond.   Visit www.westcottbay.org.

May 2

Fundraiser for Art With Heart, held at 807 Aurora Avenue N. from 10am-6pm. 25 artisans from the Northwest, working in in a variety of  mediums donate to this worthy cause.  Art with Heart reaches high-risk children, who have little or no control over their life circumstances and have the least access to mental health support. Call Sheri Hauser at 206.550.2579 for more information.

May 1 – 3

Seattle Erotic Art Festival in the Seattle Center exhibition hall. Includes a juried art exhibition and much more. For more information, see the web site at www.seattleeroctic.org .

May 2-3, 9-10

Vashon Island  Open Studio Tour features artists in all mediums in group shows and 30-40 open studios.  Maps available at island galleries and  the Chamber of Commerce, 9am-5pm.

I just found a link to this article on my Twitter feed and thought what a great idea it would be if some wonderful soul would do this for our art community here. According to a story in Art Info, a Michigan man named Rick DeVos, the grandson of a co-founder of Amway and the founder of Price Corporation, has launched a drive to find the next Picasso. He’s offering a grand price of $250,000 for the winner, $100,000 for second place and $50,000 for third place. The competition has a web site: artprize.org, and I don’t think it’s limited to residents of Michigan.

From Olympia to the Canadian border, the local art critics have written about the Tacoma Art Museum‘s Northwest Biennial. Gayle Clemans, writing for the Seattle Times, hits the nail on the head when she says, “It's hard to put together a regional survey that will satisfy everyone; critics will always wonder why so-and-so was left out and why so-and-so made it in.”  Since the show has one more month to run, you ought to go see it for yourself while there’s still time. Shown is Sarah Hood, Pine/Lily Bracelet, 2008. Sterling silver, model railroad pine trees, 6 x 5 x 1 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Facèré Jewelry Art Gallery, Seattle. Photo: Doug Yaple.

Over 60 members of the Northwest Pastel Society will exhibit at the Blue Horse Gallery, 301 West Holly Street in Bellingham, in a special show of experimental as well as traditional  pieces from April 24 through May 29. The opening reception takes place on April 24 from 6-9pm. Shown is Road Trip Nap by Mary McInnis.

Some smart folks over at Bainbridge Arts and Crafts , 151 Winslow Way, have figured out how to stay alive during this horrible economic downturn which has hit the arts extraordinarily hard. From April 30  - May 3, 75 gallery artists will lower prices from 20-50%  in hopes that they can help the gallery and themselves. They’re calling it the “Art Bailout” and hope the public will contribute to their very own art stimulus package. Included in the “Bailout” exhibit will be paintings, ceramics, photography, prints, jewelry, glass, sculpture, textiles, and kites.

Robert Daniel Gallery, 2501 Fawcett Avenue in Tacoma, opens in a reception on April 23 from 4:30-10pm with the contemporary imagery of Marcio Diaz.

Sandpoint Gallery, University of Washington School of Art , located at 7527 63rd Avenue NE in Seattle’s Magnuson Park, opens “New Works” on April 23 and invites all to a public reception on April 24 from 6-9pm. Six painters from the University of Washington School of Art have come together to challenge the traditional processes of making and experiencing a painting.

April 21

Pratt Fine Arts Center teams up with Click! Design that Fits and Mission Latin Restaurant to present a special West Seattle preview of artwork featured in Pratt's upcoming 27th Annual Fine Art Auction on Tuesday, April 21 from 6 - 9pm. Ten percent of all sales during the event will be donated to Pratt. Pratt’s auction takes place on Saturday, May 16. For more information, call Grace Meils at 206.328.2200, ext. 260.

April  24-25

Olympia Art Walk from 5-10pm on Friday and noon-7pm on Saturday. Contact Childhood’s End Gallery at 360.943.3724 for more information.

Thru April

26th Annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.  Nothing shouts Spring as loudly as brilliant Daffodil and Tulip fields exploding with color.  This must-see spectacular which draws 1 million visitors each year includes lots of art and crafts as well.  Visit www.tulipfestival.org or call 360/428-5959.

Organized by the Henry Art Gallery , 15th Avenue NE and 41st. Street, the first major presentation in the United States of the work of Danish artist Ann Lislegaard opens on April  18. The exhibition provides a comprehensive experience of Lislegaard’s extended investigation of the science fiction genre.  It comprises six major installations, three featuring video projections of digital animations and three composed of altered sound.  A  lecture by the artist is scheduled in the Henry auditorium on April 18 from 4-5:30pm. The show runs through August 23.